MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) – Less is more, at least at the grocery store. Thanks to a new law Tennesseans will soon keep more money in their pockets at the checkout counter.
Starting July 1st food tax in Tennessee will go down. But, don’t get too excited- it doesn’t cover everything and it’s really not all that much, and you have to make sure you’re being properly charged. Still, every little bit helps.
Tennessee’s new reduced food tax does not promise no tax, but it does promise a reduced tax.
Starting July 1st the food tax drops from 5.5 percent to 5.25 percent. Most people don’t even know about it.
“No,” said Memphian Sarah Currie, “I had no idea.”
The reduction won’t cover everything, but people like the idea.
“All right,” Memphis shopper Catherine Hadcigeorgiou said to abc24.com, “that’s a good thing.”
But for retailers, it means adjustments so they don’t overcharge you.
“Not the least of which,” said Billy Trout of the Tennessee Department of Revenue, “is to make adjustments to electronic cash registers that they use on a daily basis.”
Trout says most stores have no problems adjusting; after all: “This is a tax they collect on behalf of the State of Tennessee, so it is incumbent upon them to make the proper changes.”
“Well I certainly hope Kroger would do that,” said Hadcigeorgiou , “considering it is monopolizing the groceries.”
Calls to Kroger for comment on adjustments being made for the new food tax went unreturned.
Of course, when it comes to new stuff- knowledge is power.
“The biggest thing is making them aware of the changes.” Trout told abc24.com.
That’s a two way street, of course.
“Every penny counts.” Currie said.
“Thank you for informing us,” said Hadcigeorgiou.
Recent calculations show that the quarter percent drop in the food tax will save most Tennesseans only about twenty bucks a year.
Just make sure you’re not getting overcharged at the register starting July 1st.
